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LGBT rights by country or territory

May 05, 2023

For historical and current movements to further LGBT rights, see LGBT movements. For intersex rights, see Intersex human rights.
"LGBT right" redirects here. For the right-wing LGBT movement, see LGBT conservatism.

Worldwide laws regarding same-sex intercourse, unions and expression
Same-sex intercourse illegal. Penalties:
  Death
  Prison; death not enforced
  Death under militias
  Prison, w/ arrests or detention
  Prison, not enforced1
Same-sex intercourse legal. Recognition of unions:
  Marriage
  Extraterritorial marriage2
  Civil unions
  Limited domestic
  Limited foreign
  Optional certification
  None
  Restrictions of expression
Rings indicate local or case-by-case application.
1No imprisonment in the past three years or moratorium on law.
2Marriage not available locally. Some jurisdictions may perform other types of partnerships.
LGBT rights at the United Nations
  
 Neither States which did not support either declaration
  
 Non-member states States that are not voting members of the United Nations
  
 Oppose States which supported an opposing declaration in 2008 and continued their opposition in 2011
  
 Subsequent member South Sudan, which was not a member of the United Nations in 2008
  
 Support States which supported the LGBT rights declaration in the General Assembly or on the Human Rights Council in 2008 or 2011

Rights affecting lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people vary greatly by country or jurisdiction—encompassing everything from the legal recognition of same-sex marriage to the death penalty for homosexuality.

Laws concerning gender identity-expression by country or territory
  Legal identity change, surgery not required
  Legal identity change, surgery required
  No legal identity change
  Unknown/Ambiguous

Notably, as of March 2023, 34 countries recognize same-sex marriage. By contrast, not counting non-state actors and extrajudicial killings, only two countries are believed to impose the death penalty on consensual same-sex sexual acts: Iran and Afghanistan.[1] The death penalty is officially law, but generally not practiced, in Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, Somalia (in the autonomous state of Jubaland) and the United Arab Emirates. As well as, LGBT people face extrajudicial killings in the Russian region of Chechnya. Sudan rescinded its unenforced death penalty for anal sex (hetero- or homosexual) in 2020. Fifteen countries have stoning on the books as a penalty for adultery, which would include gay sex, but this is enforced by the legal authorities in Iran and Nigeria (in the northern third of the country).[2][3][4][5]

In 2011, the United Nations Human Rights Council passed its first resolution recognizing LGBT rights, following which the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights issued a report documenting violations of the rights of LGBT people, including hate crimes, criminalization of homosexual activity, and discrimination. Following the issuance of the report, the United Nations urged all countries which had not yet done so to enact laws protecting basic LGBT rights.[6][7] A 2022 study found that LGBT rights (as measured by ILGA-Europe's Rainbow Index) were correlated with less HIV/AIDS incidence among gay and bisexual men independently of risky sexual behavior.[8]

The 2023 Equaldex Equality Index ranks the Nordics, Uruguay, Canada, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States among the best for LGBT rights. The index ranks Yemen, Brunei, Afghanistan, Somalia, Mauritania, Palestine, and Iran among the worst.[9]

Scope of laws

Laws that affect LGBT people include, but are not limited to, the following:

History of LGBT-related laws

See also: LGBT history, Timeline of LGBT history, LGBT social movements, History of homosexuality, and Sodomy law § History
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Ancient India

Ayoni or non-vaginal sex of all types is punishable in the Arthashastra. Homosexual acts are, however, treated as a smaller offence punishable by a fine, while unlawful heterosexual sex carries much harsher punishment. The Dharmsastras, especially the later ones, prescribe against non-vaginal sex like the Vashistha Dharmasutra. The Yājñavalkya Smṛti prescribes fines for such acts including those with other men. Manusmriti prescribes light punishments for such acts.[10][11] Vanita states that the verses about punishment for a sex between female and a maiden is due to its strong emphasis on a maiden's sexual purity.[12]

Ancient Israel

The ancient Law of Moses (the Torah) forbids men from lying with men (i.e., from having intercourse) in Leviticus 18 and gives a story of attempted homosexual rape in Genesis 19, in the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, after which the cities were soon destroyed with "brimstone and fire, from the Lord"[13][14] and the death penalty was prescribed to its inhabitants – and to Lot's wife, who was turned into a pillar of salt because she turned back to watch the cities' destruction.[15][16] In Deuteronomy 22:5, cross-dressing is condemned as "abominable".[17][18]

Assyria

In Assyrian society, sex crimes were punished identically whether they were homosexual or heterosexual.[19] An individual faced no punishment for penetrating someone of equal social class, a cult prostitute, or with someone whose gender roles were not considered solidly masculine.[19] Such sexual relations were even seen as good fortune, with an Akkadian tablet, the Šumma ālu, reading, "If a man copulates with his equal from the rear, he becomes the leader among his peers and brothers".[20][21] However, homosexual relationships with fellow soldiers, slaves, royal attendants, or those where a social better was submissive or penetrated, were treated as bad omens.[22][23]

Middle Assyrian Law Codes dating 1075 BC has a particularly harsh law for homosexuality in the military, which reads: "If a man have intercourse with his brother-in-arms, they shall turn him into a eunuch."[24][25][26] A similar law code reads, "If a seignior lay with his neighbor, when they have prosecuted him (and) convicted him, they shall lie with him (and) turn him into a eunuch". This law code condemns a situation that involves homosexual rape. Any Assyrian male could visit a prostitute or lie with another male, just as long as false rumors or forced sex were not involved with another male.[27]

Ancient Rome

In ancient Rome, the bodies of citizen youths were strictly off-limits, and the Lex Scantinia imposed penalties on those who committed a sex crime (stuprum) against a freeborn male minor.[28] Acceptable same-sex partners were males excluded from legal protections as citizens: slaves, male prostitutes, and the infames, entertainers or others who might be technically free but whose lifestyles set them outside the law.

A male citizen who willingly performed oral sex or received anal sex was disparaged, but there is only limited evidence of legal penalties against these men.[29] In courtroom and political rhetoric, charges of effeminacy and passive sexual behaviors were directed particularly at "democratic" politicians (populares) such as Julius Caesar and Mark Antony.[30]

Roman law addressed the rape of a male citizen as early as the 2nd century BC when it was ruled that even a man who was "disreputable and questionable" had the same right as other citizens not to have his body subjected to forced sex.[31] A law probably dating to the dictatorship of Julius Caesar defined rape as forced sex against "boy, woman, or anyone"; the rapist was subject to execution, a rare penalty in Roman law.[32] A male classified as infamis, such as a prostitute or actor, could not as a matter of law be raped, nor could a slave, who was legally classified as property; the slave's owner, however, could prosecute the rapist for property damage.[33]

In the Roman army of the Republic, sex among fellow soldiers violated the decorum against intercourse with citizens and was subject to harsh penalties, including death,[34] as a violation of military discipline.[35] The Greek historian Polybius (2nd century BC) lists deserters, thieves, perjurers, and "those who in youth have abused their persons" as subject to the fustuarium, clubbing to death.[36] Ancient sources are most concerned with the effects of sexual harassment by officers, but the young soldier who brought an accusation against his superior needed to show that he had not willingly taken the passive role or prostituted himself.[37] Soldiers were free to have relations with their male slaves;[38] the use of a fellow citizen-soldier's body was prohibited, not homosexual behaviors per se.[39] By the late Republic and throughout the Imperial period, there is increasing evidence that men whose lifestyle marked them as "homosexual" in the modern sense served openly.[40]

Although Roman law did not recognize marriage between men, and in general Romans regarded marriage as a heterosexual union with the primary purpose of producing children, in the early Imperial period some male couples were celebrating traditional marriage rites. Juvenal remarks with disapproval that his friends often attended such ceremonies.[41] The emperor Nero had two marriages to men, once as the bride (with a freedman Pythagoras) and once as the groom. His consort Sporus appeared in public as Nero's wife wearing the regalia that was customary for the Roman empress.[42]

Apart from measures to protect the prerogatives of citizens, the prosecution of homosexuality as a general crime began in the 3rd century of the Christian era when male prostitution was banned by Philip the Arab. By the end of the 4th century, after the Roman Empire had come under Christian rule, passive homosexuality was punishable by burning.[43] "Death by sword" was the punishment for a "man coupling like a woman" under the Theodosian Code.[44] Under Justinian, all same-sex acts, passive or active, no matter who the partners are, were declared contrary to nature and punishable by death.[45]

British Empire

See also: LGBT rights in the Commonwealth of Nations

The United Kingdom introduced anti-homosexuality laws throughout its colonies, particularly in the 19th century when the British Empire was at its peak.[46] As of 2018, more than half of the 71 countries that criminalised homosexuality were former British colonies or protectorates.[47]

Netherlands

In 2001, the Netherlands was the first country in the world to legalize gay marriage.[48]

Global LGBT rights maps

Laws regarding same-sex sexuality by country or territory
Worldwide laws regarding same-sex intercourse, unions and expression
Same-sex intercourse illegal. Penalties:
  Death
  Prison; death not enforced
  Death under militias
  Prison, w/ arrests or detention
  Prison, not enforced1
Same-sex intercourse legal. Recognition of unions:
  Marriage
  Extraterritorial marriage2
  Civil unions
  Limited domestic
  Limited foreign
  Optional certification
  None
  Restrictions of expression
Rings indicate local or case-by-case application.
1No imprisonment in the past three years or moratorium on law.
2Marriage not available locally. Some jurisdictions may perform other types of partnerships.
LGBT rights at the United Nations
  Support
Countries which have signed a General Assembly declaration of LGBT rights or sponsored the Human Rights Council's 2011 resolution on LGBT rights (96 members)
  Oppose
Countries which signed a 2008 statement opposing LGBT rights (initially 57 members, now 54 members after withdrawal of Fiji, Rwanda and Sierra Leone)
  Neither
Countries which, as regards the UN, have expressed neither official support nor opposition to LGBT rights (44 members)
Homosexual "propaganda" and "morality" laws by country or territory
Homosexual "propaganda" and "morality" laws by country or territory
  Countries or territories that do not have homosexual "propaganda" or "morality" laws
  Fine[49]
  Unknown punishment
  Imprisonment
Decriminalization of same-sex sexual intercourse by country or territory
  1791–1850
  1850–1945
  1946–1989
  1990–present
  Unknown date of legalization of same-sex intercourse
  Same-sex sexual intercourse always legal
  Still criminalized
Equalization of age of consent laws for same-sex couples by country or territory
  1790–1829
  1830–1839
  1840–1859
  1860–1869
  1870–1879
  1880–1889
  1890–1929
  1930–1939
  1940–19491
  1950–1959
  1960–1969
  1970–1979
  1980–1989
  1990–1999
  2000–2009
  2010–2019
  2020–present
  Unknown date for equal age of consent laws for opposite and same-sex couples
  No consent laws/equal age of consent laws always equal for opposite and same-sex couples
  Unequal age of consent laws for same-sex couples
  Same-sex sexual intercourse illegal
1During World War II, Nazi Germany annexed or occupied territory, extending Germany's laws against same-sex sexual intercourse. Age of consent was previously equalized for same-sex couples in the following countries or territories before the war: Belluno (legal in 1890), Friuli-Venezia Giulia (legal in 1890), Poland (decriminalized in 1932), and Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol (legal in 1890).[citation needed] During World War II Germany did not consistently enforce anti-homosexual laws in all occupied countries.[50] All countries and territories listed that were annexed or established into reichskommissariats by Nazi Germany during World War II were restored as independent countries or reincorporated into their previous countries during or after the war and thus re-legalized equal age of consent laws for same-sex couples in those areas.[citation needed]
Legal status of same-sex marriage
  Marriage open to same-sex couples (rings: individual cases)
  Mixed jurisdiction: marriage recognized by the state but not by tribal government for residents who are members of the tribe
  Legislation or binding domestic court ruling establishing same-sex marriage, but marriage is not yet provided for
  Same-sex marriage recognized with full rights when performed in certain other jurisdictions
  Civil unions or domestic partnerships
  Limited legal recognition
  Local certification without legal force
  Limited recognition of marriage performed in certain other jurisdictions (residency rights for spouses)
  Country subject to an international court ruling that recognizes same-sex marriage
  Other countries where same-sex unions are not legally recognized
Legal status of adoption by same-sex couples by country or territory
  Joint adoption allowed
  Second-parent adoption allowed
  No laws allowing adoption by same-sex couples and no same-sex marriage
  Same-sex marriage but adoption by married same-sex couples not allowed
LGBT service in national militaries by country or territory[citation needed]
  All LGBT people can serve
  GBT men can serve
  LGB people can serve
  GB men can serve
  Ambiguous/unknown policy
  LGBT people are banned from serving
  No military
Employment discrimination laws by sexual orientation or gender identity by country or territory
  Sexual orientation and gender identity: all employment
  Sexual orientation with anti–employment discrimination ordinance and gender identity solely in public employment
  Sexual orientation: all employment
  Gender identity: all employment
  Sexual orientation and gender identity: federal public employment and federal contractors
  Sexual orientation and gender identity: public employment
  Sexual orientation: public employment
  No national-level employment laws covering sexual orientation or gender identity
Anti-discrimination laws covering goods and services by sexual orientation and/or gender identity by country or territory
Countries and territories with LGBT anti-discrimination laws in goods and services
  Sexual orientation and gender identity covered
  Sexual orientation covered
  Gender identity covered
  No national or local level anti-discrimination laws covering sexual orientation and/or gender identity in goods and services
Constitutional discrimination laws by sexual orientation and/or gender identity by country or territory
  Sexual orientation and gender identity covered
  Sexual orientation covered
  Gender identity covered
  No national or local level constitutional discrimination laws covering sexual orientation and/or gender identity
LGBT hate crime laws by country or territory
  Sexual orientation and gender identity hate crime laws
  Sexual orientation hate crime laws
  No LGBT hate crime laws
Incitement to hatred based on sexual orientation and gender identity prohibited by country or territory
  Incitement to hatred based on sexual orientation and gender identity prohibited
  Incitement to hatred based on sexual orientation prohibited
  No prohibition on incitement to hatred based on sexual orientation and gender identity
Ban on conversion therapy for minors on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity by country or territory
  Ban on conversion therapy on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity
  De facto ban on conversion therapy
  Case-by-case bans
  Proposed ban on conversion therapy
  No ban on conversion therapy
Immigration equality by country or territory[citation needed]
  Recognition of same-sex couples in national immigration laws
  Unknown/ambiguous
Bans on same-sex unions by country or territory
  No specific prohibition of same-sex marriages or unions
  Constitution bans same-sex marriage
  Constitution establishes Islamic law or bans violations of "Islamic morality"
Blood donation policies for men who have sex with men by country or territory
Blood donation policies for men who have sex with men
  Men who have sex with men may donate blood; No deferral
  Men who have sex with men may donate blood; Temporary deferral
  Men who have sex with men may not donate blood; Permanent deferral
  No Data
Blood donation policies for female sex partners of men who have sex with men by country or territory
Blood donation policies for female sex partners of men who have sex with men
  Female sex partners of men who have sex with men may donate blood; No deferral
  Female sex partners of men who have sex with men may donate blood; Temporary deferral
  Female sex partners of men who have sex with men may not donate blood; Permanent deferral
  No Data
Laws concerning gender identity-expression by country or territory
  Legal identity change, surgery not required
  Legal identity change, surgery required
  No legal identity change
  Unknown/Ambiguous
Legal recognition of non-binary genders and third gender
  Nonbinary / third gender available as voluntary opt-in
  Opt-in for intersex people only
  Standard for third gender
  Standard for intersex
  Nonbinary / third gender not legally recognized / no data

Timeline

Decriminalization of homosexuality timeline
Countries/Territories/States
Never been illegal
List
18th century
List
19th century
List
20th century
List
21st century
List
Notes
  • Note that while this template lists several historical countries, such as the Kingdom of France, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, etc., for the sake of clarity, the flags shown are contemporary flags.


LGBT-related laws by country or territory

Africa

Main article: LGBT rights in Africa
List of countries or territories by LGBT rights in Africa
This table:

Northern Africa

LGBT rights in: Same-sex sexual activity Recognition of same-sex unions Same-sex marriage Adoption by same-sex couples LGB people allowed to serve openly in military Anti-discrimination laws concerning sexual orientation Laws concerning gender identity/expression
Algeria Illegal since 1966
Penalty: Up to 3 years imprisonment with fines up to 10,000 dinars.[51] Torture,[52] beatings,[53] or vigilante executions are also common.
Canary Islands
(Autonomous community of Spain) 		Legal since 1979
+ UN decl. sign.[54] 		De facto unions legal since 2003[55] Legal since 2005[56] Legal since 2005[57][58] Spain responsible for defence Bans all anti-gay discrimination[59] Since 2007, all documents can be amended to the recognised gender[60]
Ceuta
(Autonomous city of Spain) 		Legal since 1979
+ UN decl. sign.[54] 		De facto union since 1998[61] Legal since 2005[56] Legal since 2005[57] Spain responsible for defence Bans all anti-gay discrimination Since 2007, all documents can be amended to the recognised gender[60]
Egypt / Ambiguous. Male de jure legal, but de facto illegal since 2000
Penalty: Up to 17 years imprisonment with or without hard labour and with or without fines under broadly-written morality laws.[54][62]
Libya Illegal since 1953
Penalty: Up to 5 years in jail or vigilante execution.[63][64]
Madeira
(Autonomous region of Portugal) 		Legal since 1983
+ UN decl. sign.[54] 		De facto union since 2001[65][66] Legal since 2010[67] Legal since 2016[68][69][70] Portugal responsible for defence Bans all anti-gay discrimination.[59] Since 2011, all documents can be amended to the recognised gender[71]
Melilla
(Autonomous city of Spain) 		Legal since 1979
+ UN decl. sign.[54] 		De facto union since 2008[72] Legal since 2005[56] Legal since 2005[57] Spain responsible for defence Bans all anti-gay discrimination[73] Since 2007, all documents can be amended to the recognised gender[60]
Morocco
(including Southern Provinces) 		Illegal since 1962
Penalty: Up to 3 to 6 years imprisonment with hard labour.[54][74]
Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
(Disputed territory; excluding Southern Provinces) 		Illegal since 1944 (as part of the Overseas Province of Spanish Sahara)
Penalty: Up to 3 years imprisonment.[54][75][76]
Sudan Illegal since 1899 (as Anglo-Egyptian Sudan)
Penalty: Life imprisonment for a third offense of anal sex.[77]
Tunisia Illegal since 1913 (as the French protectorate of Tunisia)
Penalty: 3 years imprisonment.[54][78]
[79]

Western Africa

LGBT rights in: Same-sex sexual activity Recognition of same-sex unions Same-sex marriage Adoption by same-sex couples LGB people allowed to serve openly in military Anti-discrimination laws concerning sexual orientation Laws concerning gender identity/expression
Benin Legal (No laws against same-sex sexual activity have ever existed in the country);[54][80]
Age of consent discrepancy[54]
Burkina Faso Legal (No laws against same-sex sexual activity have ever existed in the country)[54] Constitutional ban since 1991
Cape Verde Legal since 2004
+ UN decl. sign.[54] 		Bans some anti-gay discrimination[54]
Gambia Illegal since 1888 (as the Gambia Colony and Protectorate)
Penalty: Up to Iife imprisonment.[54][81][82] 		Forms of gender expression criminalized since 2013[83]
Ghana Male illegal since 1892 (as the Gold Coast)
Penalty: Up to 3 years imprisonment. (repeal disputed)[84]
Female always legal[54][85][82]
Guinea Illegal since 1988
Penalty: 6 months to 10 years imprisonment.[86]
Guinea-Bissau Legal since 1993[54]
+ UN decl. sign.
Ivory Coast Legal (No laws against same-sex sexual activity have ever existed in the country);
Age of consent discrepancy[54]
Liberia Illegal since 1976
Penalty: 1 year imprisonment. [54][87] (repeal disputed)
Mali Legal (No laws against same-sex sexual activity have ever existed in the country)[54]
Mauritania Illegal
Penalty: Capital punishment for men, (not enforced); prison and a fine for women.[54][88]
Niger Legal (No laws against same-sex sexual activity have ever existed in the country);
Age of consent discrepancy[54]
Nigeria Illegal since 1904 (Northern Region only)
Illegal since 1916 (Region-wide)
Penalty: Up to 14 years imprisonment.
Death in the states of Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger, Sokoto, Yobe, and Zamfara. (not enforced, except Bauchi)[54][89][82] 		Forms of gender expression criminalized in Sharia provinces.
Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
(Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom) 		Legal since 2001
+ UN decl. sign.[54] 		Legal since 2017 Legal since 2017[90][91] Legal since 2017 UK responsible for defence Bans all anti-gay discrimination
Senegal Illegal since 1966
Penalty: 1 to 5 years imprisonment.[54][92]
Sierra Leone Male illegal since 1861 (as the Sierra Leone Colony and Protectorate)
Penalty: Up to life imprisonment (Not enforced, repeal disputed).
Female always legal
+ UN decl. sign.[54]
Togo Illegal since 1980
Penalty: Fine and 3 years imprisonment [54] (repeal proposed)[93]

Central Africa

LGBT rights in: Same-sex sexual activity Recognition of same-sex unions Same-sex marriage Adoption by same-sex couples LGB people allowed to serve openly in military Anti-discrimination laws concerning sexual orientation Laws concerning gender identity/expression
Cameroon Illegal since 1972
Penalty: Fines to 5 years imprisonment.[54][82] or vigilante execution and torture,[94] (repeal disputed)
Central African Republic Legal (No laws against same-sex sexual activity have ever existed in the country)[54]
+ UN decl. sign. 		Constitutional ban since 2016[95]
Chad Illegal since 2017
Penalty: Between 3 months and 2 years in prison, with fines of 50,000 to 500,000 FCFA. (Penal Code, Chapter 2, Article 354) [96]
Democratic Republic of the Congo Legal (No laws against same-sex sexual activity have ever existed in the country)[54] Constitutional ban since 2005
Republic of the Congo Legal (No laws against same-sex sexual activity have ever existed in the country);
Age of consent discrepancy[54]
Equatorial Guinea Legal (No laws against same-sex sexual activity have ever existed in the country)[54]
Gabon Legal since 2020[97];
Age of consent discrepancy,
+ UN decl. sign.
São Tomé and Príncipe Legal since 2012
+ UN decl. sign.[54]

Eastern Africa

LGBT rights in: Same-sex sexual activity Recognition of same-sex unions Same-sex marriage Adoption by same-sex couples LGB people allowed to serve openly in military Anti-discrimination laws concerning sexual orientation Laws concerning gender identity/expression
Burundi Illegal since 2009
Penalty: fine, and 3 months to 2 years imprisonment. [54][98] (repeal disputed) 		Constitutional ban since 2005
Djibouti Legal (No laws against same-sex sexual activity have ever existed in the country) [54][99]
Eritrea Illegal
Penalty: Up to 3 years imprisonment.[54][100] or vigilate execution[101] Beatings and torture are also tolerated.[102]
Ethiopia Illegal
Penalty: Up to 15 years. [54]
Kenya Illegal since 1897 (as the East Africa Protectorate)
Penalty: up to 14 years imprisonment. (repeal proposed) [54][82] 		Constitutional ban since 2010[103] [104]
Rwanda Legal (No laws against same-sex sexual activity have ever existed in the country)[54]
+ UN decl. sign. 		Constitutional ban since 2003
Somalia Illegal. Penalty: Up to 3 years prison.
Illegal. Penalty: Up to death in Jubaland.[citation needed]
Somaliland
(Disputed territory) 		Illegal since 1941 (as British Somaliland)
Penalty: Up to 3 years prison, sometimes death sentences.[105]
South Sudan Illegal since 1899 (as Anglo-Egyptian Sudan)
Penalty: Up to 10 years imprisonment. (not enforced) [54][82] 		Constitutional ban since 2011[citation needed] Forms of gender expression are criminalized.
Tanzania Illegal since 1864 (only Zanzibar)
Illegal since 1899
Penalty: Up to life imprisonment.[54][82] Vigilante executions, beatings and torture[106][107] are also tolerated.
Uganda Male illegal since 1902 (as Protectorate)
Female illegal since 2000
Penalty: Life imprisonment, Death penalty in some cases, Beatings, torture, or vigilante execution. [108][109] 		Constitutional ban since 2005

Indian Ocean states

LGBT rights in: Same-sex sexual activity Recognition of same-sex unions Same-sex marriage Adoption by same-sex couples LGB people allowed to serve openly in military Anti-discrimination laws concerning sexual orientation Laws concerning gender identity/expression
Comoros Illegal
Penalty: 5 years imprisonment and fines. (not enforced)[54][110]
French Southern and Antarctic Lands
(Overseas territory of France) 		Legal
(No laws against same-sex sexual activity have ever existed in the territory)[54] 		Civil solidarity pact since 1999[citation needed] Legal since 2013 Legal since 2013 France responsible for defence Bans all anti-gay discrimination Under French law
Madagascar Legal
(No laws against same-sex sexual activity have ever existed in the country);
Age of consent discrepancy[54]
Mauritius Male illegal
Penalty: Up to 5 years imprisonment. (not enforced, repeal proposed)[111]
Female always legal[112]
+ UN decl. sign.[54][113] 		Bans all anti-gay discrimination[114][115]
Mayotte
(Overseas region of France) 		Legal
(No laws against same-sex sexual activity have ever existed in the region)[54] 		Civil solidarity pact since 2007 Legal since 2013 Legal since 2013 France responsible for defence Bans all anti-gay discrimination Under French law
Réunion
(Overseas region of France) 		Legal since 1791[54] Civil solidarity pact since 1999 Legal since 2013 Legal since 2013 France responsible for defence Bans all anti-gay discrimination Under French law
Seychelles Legal since 2016[116]
+ UN decl. sign.
May 05, 2023
lgbt, rights, country, territory, international, lgbt, human, rights, historical, current, movements, further, lgbt, rights, lgbt, movements, intersex, rights, intersex, human, rights, lgbt, right, redirects, here, right, wing, lgbt, movement, lgbt, conservati. International LGBT Human Rights For historical and current movements to further LGBT rights see LGBT movements For intersex rights see Intersex human rights LGBT right redirects here For the right wing LGBT movement see LGBT conservatism vte Worldwide laws regarding same sex intercourse unions and expression Same sex intercourse illegal Penalties 160 160 Death 160 160 Prison death not enforced 160 160 Death under militias 160 160 Prison w arrests or detention 160 160 Prison not enforced1 Same sex intercourse legal Recognition of unions 160 160 Marriage 160 160 Extraterritorial marriage2 160 160 Civil unions 160 160 Limited domestic 160 160 Limited foreign 160 160 Optional certification 160 160 None 160 160 Restrictions of expressionRings indicate local or case by case application 1No imprisonment in the past three years or moratorium on law 2Marriage not available locally Some jurisdictions may perform other types of partnerships LGBT rights at the United Nations vte 160 160 NeitherStates which did not support either declaration 160 160 Non member statesStates that are not voting members of the United Nations 160 160 OpposeStates which supported an opposing declaration in 2008 and continued their opposition in 2011 160 160 Subsequent memberSouth Sudan which was not a member of the United Nations in 2008 160 160 SupportStates which supported the LGBT rights declaration in the General Assembly or on the Human Rights Council in 2008 or 2011 RightsTheoretical distinctionsClaim rights and liberty rights Individual and group rights Natural rights and legal rights Negative and positive rightsHuman rightsCivil and political Economic social and cultural Three generationsRights by beneficiaryAccusedAnimalsChildrenConsumersCreditorsDeafDisabledEldersFetusesFarmersHumansNativesIntersexKingsLGBT Transgender MenMinoritiesParents Mothers Fathers PatientsPeasantsPlantsPrisonersRobotsStatesStudentsVictimsWomenWorkersYouthOther groups of rightsAssemblyAssociationAsylumCivil libertiesDigitalEducationFair trialFoodFree migrationHealthHousingLinguisticMovementPropertyReproductiveRest and leisureSelf defenseSelf determination of peopleSpeechSexualityWater and sanitationvte Rights affecting lesbian gay bisexual and transgender LGBT people vary greatly by country or jurisdiction encompassing everything from the legal recognition of same sex marriage to the death penalty for homosexuality Laws concerning gender identity expression by country or territory 160 160 Legal identity change surgery not required 160 160 Legal identity change surgery required 160 160 No legal identity change 160 160 Unknown Ambiguous Notably as of March 160 2023 91 update 93 34 countries recognize same sex marriage By contrast not counting non state actors and extrajudicial killings only two countries are believed to impose the death penalty on consensual same sex sexual acts Iran and Afghanistan 91 1 93 The death penalty is officially law but generally not practiced in Mauritania Saudi Arabia Somalia in the autonomous state of Jubaland and the United Arab Emirates As well as LGBT people face extrajudicial killings in the Russian region of Chechnya Sudan rescinded its unenforced death penalty for anal sex hetero or homosexual in 2020 Fifteen countries have stoning on the books as a penalty for adultery which would include gay sex but this is enforced by the legal authorities in Iran and Nigeria in the northern third of the country 91 2 93 91 3 93 91 4 93 91 5 93 In 2011 the United Nations Human Rights Council passed its first resolution recognizing LGBT rights following which the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights issued a report documenting violations of the rights of LGBT people including hate crimes criminalization of homosexual activity and discrimination Following the issuance of the report the United Nations urged all countries which had not yet done so to enact laws protecting basic LGBT rights 91 6 93 91 7 93 A 2022 study found that LGBT rights as measured by ILGA Europe s Rainbow Index were correlated with less HIV AIDS incidence among gay and bisexual men independently of risky sexual behavior 91 8 93 The 2023 Equaldex Equality Index ranks the Nordics Uruguay Canada Spain the United Kingdom and the United States among the best for LGBT rights The index ranks Yemen Brunei Afghanistan Somalia Mauritania Palestine and Iran among the worst 91 9 93 Contents 1 Scope of laws 2 History of LGBT related laws 2 1 Ancient India 2 2 Ancient Israel 2 3 Assyria 2 4 Ancient Rome 2 5 British Empire 2 6 Netherlands 3 Global LGBT rights maps 4 Timeline 5 LGBT related laws by country or territory 5 1 Africa 5 1 1 Northern Africa 5 1 2 Western Africa 5 1 3 Central Africa 5 1 4 Eastern Africa 5 1 5 Indian Ocean states 5 1 6 Southern Africa 5 2 Americas 5 2 1 North America 5 2 2 Central America 5 2 3 Caribbean 5 2 4 South America 5 3 Asia 5 3 1 Central Asia 5 3 2 Eurasia 5 3 3 West Asia 5 3 4 South Asia 5 3 5 East Asia 5 3 6 Southeast Asia 5 4 Europe 5 4 1 European Union 5 4 2 Central Europe 5 4 3 Eastern Europe 5 4 4 Northern Europe 5 4 5 Southern Europe 5 4 6 Western Europe 5 5 Oceania 5 5 1 Australasia 5 5 2 Melanesia 5 5 3 Micronesia 5 5 4 Polynesia 6 See also 7 Notes 8 References 9 External links Scope of laws Laws that affect LGBT people include but are not limited to the following laws concerning the recognition of same sex relationships including same sex marriage civil unions and domestic partnerships laws concerning LGBT parenting including adoption by LGBT people anti discrimination laws in employment housing education public accommodations anti bullying legislation to protect LGBT children at school hate crime laws imposing enhanced criminal penalties for prejudice motivated violence against LGBT people bathroom bills affecting access to sex segregated facilities by transgender people laws related to sexual orientation and military service laws concerning access to assisted reproductive technology sodomy laws that penalize consensual same sex sexual activity These may or may not target homosexuals males or males and females or leave some homosexual acts legal adultery laws that same sex couples are subject to age of consent laws that may impose higher ages for same sex sexual activity laws regarding donation of blood corneas and other tissues by men who have sex with men laws concerning access to gender affirming surgery and hormone replacement therapy legal recognition and accommodation of the affirmed gender History of LGBT related laws See also LGBT history Timeline of LGBT history LGBT social movements History of homosexuality and Sodomy law 160 History Part of a series onLGBT rightsLesbian Gay Bisexual TransgenderOverviewRights Movements Student Germany pre 1933 United States Intersex rights Social attitudes Transgender rights Legal status MovementAspectsMarriage Legal status Timeline Migration Military service Organizations List Parenting Adoption Pinkwashing Relationship Recognition UnionOppositionCensorship Conversion therapy Corrective rape Discrimination Criminalization of homosexuality Execution Opposition Propaganda Rhetoric ViolenceOrganizationsLGBT Bisexual Intersex Community centre Medical Military and Veteran Rights Transgender United States Religious Christian Jewish MuslimPoliticsAnarchist Libertarianism Socialism Communism Political parties affiliates Political ideologies regarding LGBTTimelineYears List CategoryRelatedDiscrimination Freedom Index Human rights Minority rights LGBT people in prisonLGBT portalvte Part of a series onLGBT topics 160 160 160 160 160 160 LesbianGayBisexualTransgenderSexual orientation and genderAromanticism Asexuality Gray asexuality Biology Bisexuality Pansexuality Demographics Environment Gender fluidity Gender identity Gender role Gender variance Homosexuality Non heterosexual Non binary gender Queer Queer heterosexuality Questioning Sexual identity Sex and gender distinction Trans man Trans woman Transgender TranssexualHistoryGeneralTimeline Homosexuality Movements Gay liberation Stonewall riotsIdentitiesLesbian Gay men Bisexuality Transgender IntersexCultureComing out Community African American Dyke March Events Largest events Gay village Homosocialization Media Films New Queer Cinema Periodicals LGBT culture in New York City Pride Pride Month Parade Queer art Queerplatonic relationship Same sex relationship Sexuality and gender identity based cultures Slang Tourism Symbols Flags TakatapuiRightsAdoption Civil union Intersex human rights Marriage Military service Parenting Rights by country or territory Transgender rights Yogyakarta PrinciplesHealthList of LGBT medical organizations Reproduction Transgender health care Youth suicideSocial attitudesAmatonormativity Heteronormativity Homosexuality and religion Mixed orientation marriage Media portrayal Sexual diversity Stereotypes Transgender people and religionIssuesAcephobia Arophobia AIDS stigma Anti LGBT rhetoric Biphobia Censorship Closeted Outing Bullying Discrimination against non binary people Discrimination against transgender men Discrimination against trans women Domestic violence Erasure Straightwashing Bisexual erasure Lesbian erasure Trans erasure Gay bashing Gayphobia Heterosexism Homophobia Intersex discrimination Lesbophobia Migration Non binary discrimination Racism Sexualism Transmisogyny Transphobia ViolenceAcademic fields and discourseCommunism and LGBT rights Gender studies Lesbian feminism Lavender linguistics LGBT conservatism Queer anarchism Queer studies Queer theory Social construction of gender Socialism and LGBT rights Transfeminism Transgender studies TravestiLGBT portalvte Ancient India Ayoni or non vaginal sex of all types is punishable in the Arthashastra Homosexual acts are however treated as a smaller offence punishable by a fine while unlawful heterosexual sex carries much harsher punishment The Dharmsastras especially the later ones prescribe against non vaginal sex like the Vashistha Dharmasutra The Yajnavalkya Smṛti prescribes fines for such acts including those with other men Manusmriti prescribes light punishments for such acts 91 10 93 91 11 93 Vanita states that the verses about punishment for a sex between female and a maiden is due to its strong emphasis on a maiden s sexual purity 91 12 93 Ancient Israel The ancient Law of Moses the Torah forbids men from lying with men i e from having intercourse in Leviticus 18 and gives a story of attempted homosexual rape in Genesis 19 in the story of Sodom and Gomorrah after which the cities were soon destroyed with brimstone and fire from the Lord 91 13 93 91 14 93 and the death penalty was prescribed to its inhabitants and to Lot s wife who was turned into a pillar of salt because she turned back to watch the cities destruction 91 15 93 91 16 93 In Deuteronomy 22 5 cross dressing is condemned as abominable 91 17 93 91 18 93 Assyria In Assyrian society sex crimes were punished identically whether they were homosexual or heterosexual 91 19 93 An individual faced no punishment for penetrating someone of equal social class a cult prostitute or with someone whose gender roles were not considered solidly masculine 91 19 93 Such sexual relations were even seen as good fortune with an Akkadian tablet the Summa alu reading If a man copulates with his equal from the rear he becomes the leader among his peers and brothers 91 20 93 91 21 93 However homosexual relationships with fellow soldiers slaves royal attendants or those where a social better was submissive or penetrated were treated as bad omens 91 22 93 91 23 93 Middle Assyrian Law Codes dating 1075 BC has a particularly harsh law for homosexuality in the military which reads If a man have intercourse with his brother in arms they shall turn him into a eunuch 91 24 93 91 25 93 91 26 93 A similar law code reads If a seignior lay with his neighbor when they have prosecuted him and convicted him they shall lie with him and turn him into a eunuch This law code condemns a situation that involves homosexual rape Any Assyrian male could visit a prostitute or lie with another male just as long as false rumors or forced sex were not involved with another male 91 27 93 Ancient Rome In ancient Rome the bodies of citizen youths were strictly off limits and the Lex Scantinia imposed penalties on those who committed a sex crime stuprum against a freeborn male minor 91 28 93 Acceptable same sex partners were males excluded from legal protections as citizens slaves male prostitutes and the infames entertainers or others who might be technically free but whose lifestyles set them outside the law A male citizen who willingly performed oral sex or received anal sex was disparaged but there is only limited evidence of legal penalties against these men 91 29 93 In courtroom and political rhetoric charges of effeminacy and passive sexual behaviors were directed particularly at democratic politicians populares such as Julius Caesar and Mark Antony 91 30 93 Roman law addressed the rape of a male citizen as early as the 2nd century BC when it was ruled that even a man who was disreputable and questionable had the same right as other citizens not to have his body subjected to forced sex 91 31 93 A law probably dating to the dictatorship of Julius Caesar defined rape as forced sex against boy woman or anyone the rapist was subject to execution a rare penalty in Roman law 91 32 93 A male classified as infamis such as a prostitute or actor could not as a matter of law be raped nor could a slave who was legally classified as property the slave s owner however could prosecute the rapist for property damage 91 33 93 In the Roman army of the Republic sex among fellow soldiers violated the decorum against intercourse with citizens and was subject to harsh penalties including death 91 34 93 as a violation of military discipline 91 35 93 The Greek historian Polybius 2nd century BC lists deserters thieves perjurers and those who in youth have abused their persons as subject to the fustuarium clubbing to death 91 36 93 Ancient sources are most concerned with the effects of sexual harassment by officers but the young soldier who brought an accusation against his superior needed to show that he had not willingly taken the passive role or prostituted himself 91 37 93 Soldiers were free to have relations with their male slaves 91 38 93 the use of a fellow citizen soldier s body was prohibited not homosexual behaviors per se 91 39 93 By the late Republic and throughout the Imperial period there is increasing evidence that men whose lifestyle marked them as homosexual in the modern sense served openly 91 40 93 Although Roman law did not recognize marriage between men and in general Romans regarded marriage as a heterosexual union with the primary purpose of producing children in the early Imperial period some male couples were celebrating traditional marriage rites Juvenal remarks with disapproval that his friends often attended such ceremonies 91 41 93 The emperor Nero had two marriages to men once as the bride with a freedman Pythagoras and once as the groom His consort Sporus appeared in public as Nero s wife wearing the regalia that was customary for the Roman empress 91 42 93 Apart from measures to protect the prerogatives of citizens the prosecution of homosexuality as a general crime began in the 3rd century of the Christian era when male prostitution was banned by Philip the Arab By the end of the 4th century after the Roman Empire had come under Christian rule passive homosexuality was punishable by burning 91 43 93 Death by sword was the punishment for a man coupling like a woman under the Theodosian Code 91 44 93 Under Justinian all same sex acts passive or active no matter who the partners are were declared contrary to nature and punishable by death 91 45 93 British Empire See also LGBT rights in the Commonwealth of Nations The United Kingdom introduced anti homosexuality laws throughout its colonies particularly in the 19th century when the British Empire was at its peak 91 46 93 As of 2018 more than half of the 71 countries that criminalised homosexuality were former British colonies or protectorates 91 47 93 Netherlands In 2001 the Netherlands was the first country in the world to legalize gay marriage 91 48 93 Global LGBT rights maps Laws regarding same sex sexuality by country or territory vte Worldwide laws regarding same sex intercourse unions and expression Same sex intercourse illegal Penalties 160 160 Death 160 160 Prison death not enforced 160 160 Death under militias 160 160 Prison w arrests or detention 160 160 Prison not enforced1 Same sex intercourse legal Recognition of unions 160 160 Marriage 160 160 Extraterritorial marriage2 160 160 Civil unions 160 160 Limited domestic 160 160 Limited foreign 160 160 Optional certification 160 160 None 160 160 Restrictions of expressionRings indicate local or case by case application 1No imprisonment in the past three years or moratorium on law 2Marriage not available locally Some jurisdictions may perform other types of partnerships LGBT rights at the United Nations 160 160 SupportCountries which have signed a General Assembly declaration of LGBT rights or sponsored the Human Rights Council s 2011 resolution on LGBT rights 96 members 160 160 OpposeCountries which signed a 2008 statement opposing LGBT rights initially 57 members now 54 members after withdrawal of Fiji Rwanda and Sierra Leone 160 160 NeitherCountries which as regards the UN have expressed neither official support nor opposition to LGBT rights 44 members Homosexual propaganda and morality laws by country or territory Homosexual propaganda and morality laws by country or territory 160 160 Countries or territories that do not have homosexual propaganda or morality laws 160 160 Fine 91 49 93 160 160 Unknown punishment 160 160 Imprisonment Decriminalization of same sex sexual intercourse by country or territory 160 160 1791 1850 160 160 1850 1945 160 160 1946 1989 160 160 1990 present 160 160 Unknown date of legalization of same sex intercourse 160 160 Same sex sexual intercourse always legal 160 160 Still criminalized Equalization of age of consent laws for same sex couples by country or territory 160 160 1790 1829 160 160 1830 1839 160 160 1840 1859 160 160 1860 1869 160 160 1870 1879 160 160 1880 1889 160 160 1890 1929 160 160 1930 1939 160 160 1940 19491 160 160 1950 1959 160 160 1960 1969 160 160 1970 1979 160 160 1980 1989 160 160 1990 1999 160 160 2000 2009 160 160 2010 2019 160 160 2020 present 160 160 Unknown date for equal age of consent laws for opposite and same sex couples 160 160 No consent laws equal age of consent laws always equal for opposite and same sex couples 160 160 Unequal age of consent laws for same sex couples 160 160 Same sex sexual intercourse illegal 1During World War II Nazi Germany annexed or occupied territory extending Germany s laws against same sex sexual intercourse Age of consent was previously equalized for same sex couples in the following countries or territories before the war Belluno legal in 1890 Friuli Venezia Giulia legal in 1890 Poland decriminalized in 1932 and Trentino Alto Adige Sudtirol legal in 1890 91 citation needed 93 During World War II Germany did not consistently enforce anti homosexual laws in all occupied countries 91 50 93 All countries and territories listed that were annexed or established into reichskommissariats by Nazi Germany during World War II were restored as independent countries or reincorporated into their previous countries during or after the war and thus re legalized equal age of consent laws for same sex couples in those areas 91 citation needed 93 Legal status of same sex marriage 160 160 Marriage open to same sex couples rings individual cases 160 160 Mixed jurisdiction marriage recognized by the state but not by tribal government for residents who are members of the tribe 160 160 Legislation or binding domestic court ruling establishing same sex marriage but marriage is not yet provided for 160 160 Same sex marriage recognized with full rights when performed in certain other jurisdictions 160 160 Civil unions or domestic partnerships 160 160 Limited legal recognition 160 160 Local certification without legal force 160 160 Limited recognition of marriage performed in certain other jurisdictions residency rights for spouses 160 160 Country subject to an international court ruling that recognizes same sex marriage 160 160 Other countries where same sex unions are not legally recognized Legal status of adoption by same sex couples by country or territory 160 160 Joint adoption allowed 160 160 Second parent adoption allowed 160 160 No laws allowing adoption by same sex couples and no same sex marriage 160 160 Same sex marriage but adoption by married same sex couples not allowed LGBT service in national militaries by country or territory 91 citation needed 93 160 160 All LGBT people can serve 160 160 GBT men can serve 160 160 LGB people can serve 160 160 GB men can serve 160 160 Ambiguous unknown policy 160 160 LGBT people are banned from serving 160 160 No military Employment discrimination laws by sexual orientation or gender identity by country or territory 160 160 Sexual orientation and gender identity all employment 160 160 Sexual orientation with anti employment discrimination ordinance and gender identity solely in public employment 160 160 Sexual orientation all employment 160 160 Gender identity all employment 160 160 Sexual orientation and gender identity federal public employment and federal contractors 160 160 Sexual orientation and gender identity public employment 160 160 Sexual orientation public employment 160 160 No national level employment laws covering sexual orientation or gender identity Anti discrimination laws covering goods and services by sexual orientation and or gender identity by country or territory Countries and territories with LGBT anti discrimination laws in goods and services 160 160 Sexual orientation and gender identity covered 160 160 Sexual orientation covered 160 160 Gender identity covered 160 160 No national or local level anti discrimination laws covering sexual orientation and or gender identity in goods and services Constitutional discrimination laws by sexual orientation and or gender identity by country or territory 160 160 Sexual orientation and gender identity covered 160 160 Sexual orientation covered 160 160 Gender identity covered 160 160 No national or local level constitutional discrimination laws covering sexual orientation and or gender identity LGBT hate crime laws by country or territory 160 160 Sexual orientation and gender identity hate crime laws 160 160 Sexual orientation hate crime laws 160 160 No LGBT hate crime laws Incitement to hatred based on sexual orientation and gender identity prohibited by country or territory 160 160 Incitement to hatred based on sexual orientation and gender identity prohibited 160 160 Incitement to hatred based on sexual orientation prohibited 160 160 No prohibition on incitement to hatred based on sexual orientation and gender identity Ban on conversion therapy for minors on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity by country or territory 160 160 Ban on conversion therapy on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity 160 160 De facto ban on conversion therapy 160 160 Case by case bans 160 160 Proposed ban on conversion therapy 160 160 No ban on conversion therapy Immigration equality by country or territory 91 citation needed 93 160 160 Recognition of same sex couples in national immigration laws 160 160 Unknown ambiguous Bans on same sex unions by country or territory 160 160 No specific prohibition of same sex marriages or unions 160 160 Constitution bans same sex marriage 160 160 Constitution establishes Islamic law or bans violations of Islamic morality Blood donation policies for men who have sex with men by country or territory Blood donation policies for men who have sex with men 160 160 Men who have sex with men may donate blood No deferral 160 160 Men who have sex with men may donate blood Temporary deferral 160 160 Men who have sex with men may not donate blood Permanent deferral 160 160 No Data Blood donation policies for female sex partners of men who have sex with men by country or territory Blood donation policies for female sex partners of men who have sex with men 160 160 Female sex partners of men who have sex with men may donate blood No deferral 160 160 Female sex partners of men who have sex with men may donate blood Temporary deferral 160 160 Female sex partners of men who have sex with men may not donate blood Permanent deferral 160 160 No Data Laws concerning gender identity expression by country or territory 160 160 Legal identity change surgery not required 160 160 Legal identity change surgery required 160 160 No legal identity change 160 160 Unknown Ambiguous Legal recognition of non binary genders and third gender 160 160 Nonbinary third gender available as voluntary opt in 160 160 Opt in for intersex people only 160 160 Standard for third gender 160 160 Standard for intersex 160 160 Nonbinary third gender not legally recognized no data Timeline Decriminalization of homosexuality timeline Countries Territories States Never been illegal List Aruba NetherlandsBeninBurkina FasoCambodiaCentral African RepublicCocos Keeling Islands AustraliaCongoDR CongoChristmas Island AustraliaCuracao NetherlandsDjiboutiEquatorial GuineaFrench Polynesia FranceIndonesia 91 a 93 Ivory CoastLaosMadagascarMaliMayotte FranceMicronesiaNew Caledonia FranceNigerNorth KoreaRwandaSint Maarten NetherlandsSouth KoreaPhilippinesPolandTaiwanVietnamWallis and Futuna France 18th century List 1791 Andorra 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Kingdom of France includes Guadeloupe French Guiana Martinique Reunion San Barthelemy Saint Martin and Saint Pierre and Miquelon 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Saint Domingue Haiti 1793 Monaco1794 Luxembourg1795 Belgium1798 Geneva Switzerland 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Ticino Switzerland 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Vaud Switzerland 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Valais Switzerland 19th century List 1811 Netherlands1822 Dominican Republic 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 El Salvador1830 Empire of Brazil1832 Bolivia1853 Argentina1858 Ottoman Empire Turkey 1864 San Marino1869 Dutch Guiana Suriname 1871 Guatemala 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Mexico1880 Empire of Japan1890 Kingdom of Italy 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Vatican City1899 Honduras 20th century List 1924 Peru1933 Denmark includes Greenland and the Faroe Islands 1934 Uruguay1940 Kingdom of Iceland1942 Switzerland nationwide 1944 Sweden1951 Greece 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Jordan 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 West Bank Palestine1956 Thailand1961 Hungary1962 Czechoslovakia 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Illinois United States1967 England and Wales United Kingdom1968 Bulgaria 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 East Germany1969 Canada 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 West Germany1971 Austria 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Connecticut United States 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Costa Rica 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Finland1972 Colorado United States 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Oregon United States 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Norway1973 Delaware United States 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Hawaii United States 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Malta 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 North Dakota United States1974 Massachusetts United States 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Ohio United States1975 East Timor 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 New Hampshire United States 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 New Mexico United States 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 South Australia Australia1976 Australian Capital Territory Australia 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Bahrain 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 California United States 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Indiana United States 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Maine United States 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Washington United States 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 West Virginia United States1977 Socialist Republic of Croatia 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Socialist Republic of Montengro 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Socialist Republic of Slovenia 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 South Dakota United States 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Vermont United States 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Wyoming United States1978 Guam United States 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Iowa United States 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Nebraska United States 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 New Jersey United States1979 Cuba 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Spain1980 American Samoa United States 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 New York United States 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Pennsylvania United States1981 Colombia 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Scotland United Kingdom 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Victoria Australia1982 Northern Ireland United Kingdom1983 Guernsey United Kingdom 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Northern Mariana Islands United States 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Northern Territory Australia 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Portugal 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Wisconsin United States1984 New South Wales Australia1985 United States Virgin Islands United States1986 New Zealand1988 Israel1989 Falkland Islands United Kingdom 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Liechtenstein1990 Jersey United Kingdom 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Paraguay 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Western Australia Australia1991 Bahamas 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Abkhazia 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 British Hong Kong 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Queensland Australia 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 South Ossetia 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Ukraine1992 Estonia 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Isle of Man United Kingdom 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Kentucky United States 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Latvia1993 District of Columbia United States 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Gibraltar United Kingdom 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Guinea Bissau 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Ireland 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Lithuania 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Mongolia 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Nevada United States 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Norfolk Island Australia 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Russia 91 b 93 1994 Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Belarus 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Bermuda United Kingdom 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Republic of Serbia1995 Albania 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Moldova1996 Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzgovina 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Portuguese Macau 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 North Macedonia 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Romania 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Tennessee United States1997 China 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Ecuador 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Montana United States 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Tasmania Australia 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Venezuela1998 Cyprus 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Georgia United States 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Kazakhstan 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Kyrgyzstan 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Republika Srpska Bosnia and Herzegovina 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Rhode Island United States 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 South Africa 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Tajikistan1999 Chile 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Maryland United States2000 Akrotiri and Dhekelia United Kingdom 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Republic of Artsakh 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Azerbaijan 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Georgia 21st century List 2001 Anguilla United Kingdom 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Arizona United States 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Brcko District Bosnia and Herzegovina 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 British Virgin Islands United Kingdom 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Cayman Islands United Kingdom 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Minnesota United States 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Montserrat United Kingdom 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Saint Helena Ascension and Tristan da Cunha United Kingdom 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Pitcairn Islands United Kingdom 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Turks and Caicos Islands United Kingdom2002 Arkansas United States 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Transnistria2003 Armenia 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Iraq 91 c 93 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Tokelau New Zealand 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 United States nationwide 2004 Cape Verde2005 Marshall Islands2007 Nepal 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Vanuatu2008 Nicaragua 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Panama2010 Fiji2012 Lesotho 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Sao Tome and Principe2014 Northern Cyprus 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Palau2015 Mozambique2016 Belize 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Nauru 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Seychelles2018 India 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Trinidad and Tobago2019 Botswana2020 Gabon2021 Angola 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Bhutan2022 Antigua and Barbuda 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Barbados 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Singapore 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 Saint Kitts and Nevis2023 Cook Islands New Zealand Notes Note that while this template lists several historical countries such as the Kingdom of France Czechoslovakia East Germany etc for the sake of clarity the flags shown are contemporary flags LGBT related laws by country or territory Africa Main article LGBT rights in Africa List of countries or territories by LGBT rights in Africa This table viewtalkedit Northern Africa LGBT rights in Same sex sexual activity Recognition of same sex unions Same sex marriage Adoption by same sex couples LGB people allowed to serve openly in military Anti discrimination laws concerning sexual orientation Laws concerning gender identity expression Algeria Illegal since 1966Penalty Up to 3 years imprisonment with fines up to 10 000 dinars 91 51 93 Torture 91 52 93 beatings 91 53 93 or vigilante executions are also common Canary Islands Autonomous community of Spain Legal since 1979 UN decl sign 91 54 93 De facto unions legal since 2003 91 55 93 Legal since 2005 91 56 93 Legal since 2005 91 57 93 91 58 93 Spain responsible for defence Bans all anti gay discrimination 91 59 93 Since 2007 all documents can be amended to the recognised gender 91 60 93 Ceuta Autonomous city of Spain Legal since 1979 UN decl sign 91 54 93 De facto union since 1998 91 61 93 Legal since 2005 91 56 93 Legal since 2005 91 57 93 Spain responsible for defence Bans all anti gay discrimination Since 2007 all documents can be amended to the recognised gender 91 60 93 Egypt Ambiguous Male de jure legal but de facto illegal since 2000Penalty Up to 17 years imprisonment with or without hard labour and with or without fines under broadly written morality laws 91 54 93 91 62 93 Libya Illegal since 1953Penalty Up to 5 years in jail or vigilante execution 91 63 93 91 64 93 Madeira Autonomous region of Portugal Legal since 1983 UN decl sign 91 54 93 De facto union since 2001 91 65 93 91 66 93 Legal since 2010 91 67 93 Legal since 2016 91 68 93 91 69 93 91 70 93 Portugal responsible for defence Bans all anti gay discrimination 91 59 93 Since 2011 all documents can be amended to the recognised gender 91 71 93 Melilla Autonomous city of Spain Legal since 1979 UN decl sign 91 54 93 De facto union since 2008 91 72 93 Legal since 2005 91 56 93 Legal since 2005 91 57 93 Spain responsible for defence Bans all anti gay discrimination 91 73 93 Since 2007 all documents can be amended to the recognised gender 91 60 93 Morocco including Southern Provinces Illegal since 1962Penalty Up to 3 to 6 years imprisonment with hard labour 91 54 93 91 74 93 Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic Disputed territory excluding Southern Provinces Illegal since 1944 as part of the Overseas Province of Spanish Sahara Penalty Up to 3 years imprisonment 91 54 93 91 75 93 91 76 93 Sudan Illegal since 1899 as Anglo Egyptian Sudan Penalty Life imprisonment for a third offense of anal sex 91 77 93 Tunisia Illegal since 1913 as the French protectorate of Tunisia Penalty 3 years imprisonment 91 54 93 91 78 93 91 79 93 Western Africa LGBT rights in Same sex sexual activity Recognition of same sex unions Same sex marriage Adoption by same sex couples LGB people allowed to serve openly in military Anti discrimination laws concerning sexual orientation Laws concerning gender identity expression Benin Legal No laws against same sex sexual activity have ever existed in the country 91 54 93 91 80 93 Age of consent discrepancy 91 54 93 Burkina Faso Legal No laws against same sex sexual activity have ever existed in the country 91 54 93 Constitutional ban since 1991 Cape Verde Legal since 2004 UN decl sign 91 54 93 Bans some anti gay discrimination 91 54 93 Gambia Illegal since 1888 as the Gambia Colony and Protectorate Penalty Up to Iife imprisonment 91 54 93 91 81 93 91 82 93 Forms of gender expression criminalized since 2013 91 83 93 Ghana Male illegal since 1892 as the Gold Coast Penalty Up to 3 years imprisonment repeal disputed 91 84 93 Female always legal 91 54 93 91 85 93 91 82 93 Guinea Illegal since 1988Penalty 6 months to 10 years imprisonment 91 86 93 Guinea Bissau Legal since 1993 91 54 93 UN decl sign Ivory Coast Legal No laws against same sex sexual activity have ever existed in the country Age of consent discrepancy 91 54 93 Liberia Illegal since 1976Penalty 1 year imprisonment 91 54 93 91 87 93 repeal disputed Mali Legal No laws against same sex sexual activity have ever existed in the country 91 54 93 Mauritania Illegal Penalty Capital punishment for men not enforced prison and a fine for women 91 54 93 91 88 93 Niger Legal No laws against same sex sexual activity have ever existed in the country Age of consent discrepancy 91 54 93 Nigeria Illegal since 1904 Northern Region only Illegal since 1916 Region wide Penalty Up to 14 years imprisonment Death in the states of Bauchi Borno Gombe Jigawa Kaduna Kano Katsina Kebbi Niger Sokoto Yobe and Zamfara not enforced except Bauchi 91 54 93 91 89 93 91 82 93 Forms of gender expression criminalized in Sharia provinces Saint Helena Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom Legal since 2001 UN decl sign 91 54 93 Legal since 2017 Legal since 2017 91 90 93 91 91 93 Legal since 2017 UK responsible for defence Bans all anti gay discrimination Senegal Illegal since 1966Penalty 1 to 5 years imprisonment 91 54 93 91 92 93 Sierra Leone Male illegal since 1861 as the Sierra Leone Colony and Protectorate Penalty Up to life imprisonment Not enforced repeal disputed Female always legal UN decl sign 91 54 93 Togo Illegal since 1980Penalty Fine and 3 years imprisonment 91 54 93 repeal proposed 91 93 93 Central Africa LGBT rights in Same sex sexual activity Recognition of same sex unions Same sex marriage Adoption by same sex couples LGB people allowed to serve openly in military Anti discrimination laws concerning sexual orientation Laws concerning gender identity expression Cameroon Illegal since 1972Penalty Fines to 5 years imprisonment 91 54 93 91 82 93 or vigilante execution and torture 91 94 93 repeal disputed Central African Republic Legal No laws against same sex sexual activity have ever existed in the country 91 54 93 UN decl sign Constitutional ban since 2016 91 95 93 Chad Illegal since 2017Penalty Between 3 months and 2 years in prison with fines of 50 000 to 500 000 FCFA Penal Code Chapter 2 Article 354 91 96 93 Democratic Republic of the Congo Legal No laws against same sex sexual activity have ever existed in the country 91 54 93 Constitutional ban since 2005 Republic of the Congo Legal No laws against same sex sexual activity have ever existed in the country Age of consent discrepancy 91 54 93 Equatorial Guinea Legal No laws against same sex sexual activity have ever existed in the country 91 54 93 Gabon Legal since 2020 91 97 93 Age of consent discrepancy UN decl sign Sao Tome and Principe Legal since 2012 UN decl sign 91 54 93 Eastern Africa LGBT rights in Same sex sexual activity Recognition of same sex unions Same sex marriage Adoption by same sex couples LGB people allowed to serve openly in military Anti discrimination laws concerning sexual orientation Laws concerning gender identity expression Burundi Illegal since 2009Penalty fine and 3 months to 2 years imprisonment 91 54 93 91 98 93 repeal disputed Constitutional ban since 2005 Djibouti Legal No laws against same sex sexual activity have ever existed in the country 91 54 93 91 99 93 Eritrea IllegalPenalty Up to 3 years imprisonment 91 54 93 91 100 93 or vigilate execution 91 101 93 Beatings and torture are also tolerated 91 102 93 Ethiopia IllegalPenalty Up to 15 years 91 54 93 Kenya Illegal since 1897 as the East Africa Protectorate Penalty up to 14 years imprisonment repeal proposed 91 54 93 91 82 93 Constitutional ban since 2010 91 103 93 91 104 93 Rwanda Legal No laws against same sex sexual activity have ever existed in the country 91 54 93 UN decl sign Constitutional ban since 2003 Somalia Illegal Penalty Up to 3 years prison Illegal Penalty Up to death in Jubaland 91 citation needed 93 Somaliland Disputed territory Illegal since 1941 as British Somaliland Penalty Up to 3 years prison sometimes death sentences 91 105 93 South Sudan Illegal since 1899 as Anglo Egyptian Sudan Penalty Up to 10 years imprisonment not enforced 91 54 93 91 82 93 Constitutional ban since 2011 91 citation needed 93 Forms of gender expression are criminalized Tanzania Illegal since 1864 only Zanzibar Illegal since 1899Penalty Up to life imprisonment 91 54 93 91 82 93 Vigilante executions beatings and torture 91 106 93 91 107 93 are also tolerated Uganda Male illegal since 1902 as Protectorate Female illegal since 2000Penalty Life imprisonment Death penalty in some cases Beatings torture or vigilante execution 91 108 93 91 109 93 Constitutional ban since 2005 Indian Ocean states LGBT rights in Same sex sexual activity Recognition of same sex unions Same sex marriage Adoption by same sex couples LGB people allowed to serve openly in military Anti discrimination laws concerning sexual orientation Laws concerning gender identity expression Comoros Illegal Penalty 5 years imprisonment and fines not enforced 91 54 93 91 110 93 French Southern and Antarctic Lands Overseas territory of France Legal No laws against same sex sexual activity have ever existed in the territory 91 54 93 Civil solidarity pact since 1999 91 citation needed 93 Legal since 2013 Legal since 2013 France responsible for defence Bans all anti gay discrimination Under French law Madagascar Legal No laws against same sex sexual activity have ever existed in the country Age of consent discrepancy 91 54 93 Mauritius Male illegal Penalty Up to 5 years imprisonment not enforced repeal proposed 91 111 93 Female always legal 91 112 93 UN decl sign 91 54 93 91 113 93 Bans all anti gay discrimination 91 114 93 91 115 93 Mayotte Overseas region of France Legal No laws against same sex sexual activity have ever existed in the region 91 54 93 Civil solidarity pact since 2007 Legal since 2013 Legal since 2013 France responsible for defence Bans all anti gay discrimination Under French law Reunion Overseas region of France Legal since 1791 91 54 93 Civil solidarity pact since 1999 Legal since 2013 Legal since 2013 France responsible for defence Bans all anti gay discrimination Under French law Seychelles Legal since 2016 91 116 93 UN decl sign img data file, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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